Beijing Police Detain Reporters at Conference on Press Freedom

Police prevented around a dozen foreign reporters from leaving the site of a news conference on media freedom in China and a subsequent event staged by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Some reporters were detained for about 90 minutes. One reporter was shoved around. One call to the Foreign Ministry went unanswered. Another call was answered, but the police officer refused to speak to ministry officials.

Police asked reporters why they attended, who informed them of the event, and what was the purpose of handcuffs in a poster used by the organizers.